Why young gun Sam Konstas is now a ‘lock’ to open the batting for Sydney Thunder in Big Bash with David Warner
- Sam Konstas hit 56 off 27 balls for Thunder
- Fastest half-century in franchise BBL history
- Will open the batting with David Warner
Rising star Sam Konstas is now a lock to continue plundering runs for the Sydney Thunder after a stunning Big Bash debut against the Adelaide Strikers in Canberra on Tuesday night.
Incredibly, the 19-year-old only opened the batting alongside captain David Warner due to an injury to Nic Maddinson.
Konstas seized his moment and hit the fastest 50 in Thunder history – off just 20 balls – in what was a standout BBL debut.
Despite his abundance of red-ball runs this summer, including centuries for NSW and the Prime Minister’s XI against India, Konstas would not be the first choice opener for the Thunder.
Instead, it was veteran Maddinson – on his fourth BBL club – who was initially set to meet the white ball with Warner.
Maddinson is out with a finger injury and Warner declared Konstas a lock in the XI for this weekend’s Sydney derby against the Sixers.
Sam Konstas is now a lock to continue plundering runs for the Sydney Thunder after a stunning Big Bash debut against the Adelaide Strikers (pictured, with captain David Warner)
Konstas hit the fastest 50 in Thunder history – off just 20 balls – in what was a standout performance
The teenager has now racked up 736 runs in the Sheffield Shield, One-Day Cup, Australia A and BBL this summer, along with his 107 for the Prime Minister’s XI (pictured, after his half-century at Manuka Oval)
‘I was really nervous. It’s quite surreal,” Konstas said after finishing with 56 from just 27 balls in front of his family at Manuka Oval.
‘It is very special that my family is here. Making a few runs and contributing was nice.”
The teenager now has 736 runs to his name in the Sheffield Shield, One-Day Cup, Australia A and BBL this summer, along with his 107 for the Prime Minister’s XI.
Konstas continues to put pressure on newly installed Test opener Nathan McSweeney, who has passed 10 just once in five innings against India.
He failed again in Australia’s second innings on day five of the Third Test in Brisbane, collecting just four off 25 balls.
Commenting for Fox Cricket, England great Michael Vaughan Konstas stated ‘has the ceiling to be world class.’
“You look at the movements, you look at his skill levels, the flow of the bat, the little tricks… he can play seriously,” he said.
‘I think he’s a great talent and he has a great future.’